Speed-measure.



J. O. MORRISON.

SPEED MEASURE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.16,1905. RENEWED 15, 1911.

Patented June 13, 1911.

2 $HEETS-*SHEET 1.

Witn'eoom xfl/lo- J. 0. MORRISON.

' SPEED MEASURE APPLICATION FILED JAN.16,1905.

RENEWED MAR. 15, 1911.

Patented June 13, 1911.

2 -SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. 7 6 4 E Z M Whine/sou can s'rirns 1PaT-nn'r OFFICE.

JOSEPH O. MORRISON, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO FRANK J. KENT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPEED-MEASURE.

Application filed January 16, 1905, Serial No. 241,294. Renewed March 15, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, J osnrn O. Monnrson, of Anderson, in the county of Madison, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed-Measures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generically to improvements in mechanism, of which centrifugal speed governors for engines are a familiar example, for converting rotary into reciprocatory motion, through the employment of centrifugal force, and specifically, comprises machines for the measurement of speed of rotation, of-rcvolving bodies, wherein the reciprocatory movement obtained through the conversion aforesaid and hearing a definite relation to the rotary motion from which it is derived, is indicated.

In machines for converting rotary into reciprocatory motion, through the employment of centrifugal force, generally it may he observed that while the rotative movement is continuous in one dlrection, lrrespective of variations in speed, the reciprocatory movement derivable therefrom is not only limited as to its maximum extent in one direction, but plays back and forth in opposite directions in response tovariations in the speed of rotation from which it is derived. A limit, comparatively restricted at best, of reciprocatory movement in opposite directions derivable from the means referred tois imposed by the. extent of movement of the members susceptible to actuation under direct impulse of centrifugal force. It is therefore a desideratum in machines of the aforesaid general class, to secure maximum movement of the centrifugal actuating members 'within'a minimum field of operation. The attainment of this object my invention is designed to accomplish.

In speed measuring instruments especially a maximum limit of reciprocatory movement referred to is of peculiar importance, because .itafi'ords, by the aid of simple and direct connections, a wider indicator-sweep, and a practicability of wide and easily read graduations upon a. dial plate of desirably small diameter. In speed measurin instruments it is also practically essential to procurement of the requisite sensitiveness of operation in the machine, besides the desirability of reductionof the instrument .to

small-compass, to employ, as centrifugal Specification of Letters Patent.

speed indicator embodyin Patented June 13, 1911.

Serial No. 614,702.

| actuating-members, ponderable bodies of the minimum weight which may respond promptly and eliiciently to the impulse of centrifugal force. This also is one of the objects attained by my invention.

Iieretofore, in mechanism of the class specified, the centrifugal actuating-members employed have been made to operate in a plane at right angles to their common axis of rotation. By my invention, through a material interposition, I efl'ect the application of the force resultantfrom the genera-.

tion. of centrifugal force directly against the reciprocatory' member or converter of my machine. By that means, I am enabled to substitute direct action for indirect agency, with the result of greatly simplifyin the instrumentalities necessarily employe to attain the object in view.

Having hereinbefore indicated in a gen eral way some of the objects of my invention, I shall now proceed to describe the same in detail, and in the appended claims to succinctly specify what constitutes my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, which constitute part of this specification, and wherein I have illustrated certain forms of an instrument for measuring speed of a rotative body: Figural isa side elevation of a 7 my invention,

looking toward the dial; Fig. II is a section on the line IIII of Fig. I, but part-1y elevation; Fig. III is a section on the line III-III of Fig. II, some of the parts being shown in elevation, the centrifugal members being shown at rest in full lines, andnear their limit of movement in dotted lines Fig. IV is a section on the line V-V of Fig. III, looking toward the converter head of. the instrument; Fig. V is a diametrical section, partly in elevation, of the driving case of my instrument, illustrating in elevation an embodiment ofmy invention slightly modified as to form of the converter head'and cen trifugal member tracks; Fig. VI is a per spective view of the converter head shown in Figs. III and IV, detached; Fig. VII is a diagrammatical illustration of a slight modification of the converter head and guide member.

In every form of its embodiment my in.

vention comprises a relatively stationary member and, in operative relation to the stabracket, or any suitable means, not shown, to some body or member that is relatively fixed to the rotative body whose speed of rotation.

it is intended that the instrument shall measure.

eneral class described are numerous, a

amiliar example being the well known motor vehicle. The box 1 is. preferably.

.providedrQwith an annular screw cap 52,

adapted to secure within the face of the box,

as against an annular flange 3, a glass faceplate 4, employed, by reason of its trans parency, to protect and at the same time exhibit the face of a dial 5 suitably mounted and secured within the box.

7 indicates the rota-tive memberabove'referred to as forming one of the essential members of my invention. It preferably consists. of a cylindrical metallic case, closed and perfectly protected as by a screw cap 8. The case 7 is assembled with perfect freedom of revolubility, so far as the same is practically attainable, with the'box 1, the

.means illustrate'dforthe purposebeing a hollow bearingamember 9 which, extending across the box 1 and preferably beyond the sides thereof, is secured thereto. The means ofrevolubl securing the case to the box is preferably a ball-bearing, which may be conveniently formed by an inwardly flanged collar 11, projecting from the end plate 12 I of thecase, and secured in place as by a bearing member 9. 50

screw-collar13 threaded to the end of the A ring of balls 14: con- 'fined by the co1lar13 against the bearing 'member 9 and the flange of the collar 11, suitable bearing faces upon the members specified being provided for the purpose, serve to properly assemble the parts. The connection between the case 7 and the bearingmember 9 is illustrated as a coaxial one, buttha-t is obviously susceptible of variation. The case? is designed and adapted, through operative contact, as between its tread.15 and the periphery of a rotative body whose peripheral speed of rotation is to be measured, to derive motion from said rotative body. If therefore the tread 15 be brought into operative frictional engagezfient with the periphery of a rotating body,

Obviously, the members of-th'eand legibly exhibit the measurement when obtained, I employ, to begin with, means for converting the rotative movement of the case 7 into relative reciprocatory movement of a member which, for convenience of identification, designate a converter, comprising essentially an endwise movable member or rod 17 working loosely within the bore of the bearing member 9, and. provided upon its free end within the case 15 .with an impulsive member or head 18.

The impulsive member 18 is so called be- ,cause it receives direct impulse from the centr fugal members 19 which, driven away from the axis of the rod 17 by centrifugal force, are caused, preferably through direct engagement with the head 18, to impart to the rod 17 an impulse which tends to force it from the case 7 into the bore, of the bearing member 9; Provision mustbe made of means which actingin opposition to the said force in order to render it regularly and continuously available, shall yieldingly tend tovdrive the rod 17 in the opposite direction.

This end may be accomplished through the employment of a suitable compensating spring,hereinafter specified.

Assuming that the normal position of the end of the rod 17 or head 18 thereof against the cap be yieldingly maintained, the centrifugal member or members 19, if more than one are employed. may be confined therewith in a centripetal position about the end of the rod 17 or head 18 thereof, whence they may be driven outward upon due application of centrifugal force. The centrifugal members 19 arerthus confined in effect by a sensitive spring balance, ready promptly and efficiently to respond to a preponderance ofcentrifugal force communicated to them. It is by reason of thenecessity for yieldingly confining the centrifugal members 19 into a normal position that said members should be made, although of a weight suflicient to render them. promptlyorder that a weak and sensitive spring may be employed to hold them counterbalanced means should be such as will serve to effectively guide the movement of the balls, and at the same time offer the least resistance to the freedom'of movement of the latter. For example, the head 18 may be provided with one or more radial hollow arms 21, of which four are illustrated in Figs. III and IV of the drawings. Each of the arms 21 is providcdwith a radial, preferably open-ended bore, which loosely accommodates-a ball. 19.

Assembled with the case 7 within the hollow arms 21 of the head 18 the balls are free to travel from end to end of their respective arms, but through the interposition of suit ably constructed and disposed guide members 23 provision may be made not only for confining the balls in the normal centripetal position shown in Fig. III, and for imparting to them a maximum extent of movement under action of centrifugal force, but also for"allowing the balls an extentof movement which is the resultant of the centrifugal force and the opposing resistance offered by head 18, together with its arms 21'. The

result is motive: impulse imparted to the converter, which, though necessarily oblique to its axis of reciprocation, is nevertheless direct and positive. This is one of the distinctfeatures of myinvention, as contra- .distinguishing it from attempts made to 'utilize the-movement of centrifugally actuated-balls against inclined planes or wedges,

carried "in the converter head, whose operatlon is not onlyainsatlsfactory m practice, owing to excessive frrctlon, and other causes,

' but is'also so far limited in extent of-motion practically derivable therefrom as seriously to impairthe accuracy of any instrument in which theyare-embodied as a part.

' The-members 23 may be, for convenience of-assembling the parts, mounted upon the cap 8 of the case 7, and each is provided .wi'th a; guide face or edge 24, whose pres- .145 2 3..'=.-'The disposition of the guide-edge ence determines the function of the member may be, for example, such as is clearly illustratedinlFig. III, for instance, and itis brought into operative engagementwith the .baillTlQ-which travels upon it, thrcugh thepresence in -the arm- 21 of a kerf 25, provided for the accommodation of the member 23. It Will-be seen, therefore, that the length of the guide-face or facesQ-ft determines the extent of movement-of the ball or balls 19, and

that consequently the extent of said move ment may be increased or diminished by varying the width of the-tread.15,rather than the diameter ofthe' case 7, which is ad 'anta- *geous-in practice. I

With-a View to theelimination of friction between the balls 19 and the tracks whereon they move,"I show diagrammatically'in Fi tratcs substantially a reversal of this arrangement, in which a converter head is shown as provided with radial fingers 30, which work in kcrfs 31 provided for them in tubular guide pieces provided within the case T. By this arrangen'ient the centrifugal balls, indicated in said figure by the numerals 33, are assembled with the case 7 within the tubes instead of within the converter head 18, as previously specified, but the op eration of said two forms of embodiment of the principle of my invention is substantially identical.

From the foregoing description it becomes apparent .thatthe converter with its rod 17 is rotatively assembled with thecase 7. To altogether eliminate, that is to say, completely convert said rotative movement, I provide within the bore of the member 9 a converter rod-section 35, which is opera--. tively connected with, but segregated from, the rod 17 as by the interposition of a spherical idler 36. The presence of the idler 36 serves to permit free rotative'movement of the rod 17, independently of the rod-section 35, and at the same time to perfectly transmit endwise movement from one to the other. The rod-section 35 being therefore in effect, so far as reciprocatory movement is concerned, an extension of the converter rod 17,

I- apply against the free end of said rodsection a counterbalancing spring 37, previously alluded to, and confine it within the bore of the bearing member 9 by an abutment screw 38, preferably made of sufficient length to afford requisite means of adjust ment of the expansive force of the sprin", whereby the force of said spring may be brought to'a nice balance to support the weight of the balls 19 in their centripetal position illustrated in Fig. III.

To render the movement of the converter rod-section 35 legibly visible against the face of the dial 5, I am enabled by-the e'xtent 'of reciprocatory-movement derivable from the instrumentalities which I employ, to make use of the direct and simple conncction illustrated in the drawings, and

thereby to eliminate certain chances of error which accumulatively present themselves in complex indicating mechanism; The simple mechanism which T prefer to employ, andwhich perfectly answers the purpose, is -a rack 40,- engaging with a pinion 41 secured to anarbor 42 mounted in suitable bearings provided for it within the. box 1. The

I slightest possible rotative movement in the converter rod-section may be prevented by engagement of a pin 43 projecting from the side of the section 35, and extending into an oblong slot 44 in the bearing member 9, the slot 44 beingof a longitudinal extent equal to or greater than that of the'reciprocatory movement of the converter. The arbor 42-carries upon its end which projects through the dial 5 an indicator needle which is adapted through impulse derived from the reciprocatory. movement of the converter rod-section 35 to make a complete revolution over the face of the dial. The sweep of the needle may be graduated in any preferred numerals upon the face of the dial, as illustrated, for example, in Fig. I, the position in full lines of the needle -15 being that at which it indicates zero. ating the dial from the zero point, the case 7 may, be by test driven up -to a calculated maximum, and intermediate graduations determined and inscribed upon the dial plate,

the intermediategraduations being of course subject to repetitions of the test above sug gested, at intermediate rates between zero and the maximum. 1

In order to render the indication-legible at any time, day or night, I prefer toprovide upon the transparent face plate 4, aseries of opaque characters or figures as'illustrated in Fig. I, underneath which the needle 45 sweeps, said figures being directly opposite the dial 5, if the latter be employed. Ob-

viously, only one or the two series of figures referred to may be employed as preferred. The figures of the, series upon, the plate 4 are preferably out into the plate, and are filled with a suitable opaque material WVithin the box, as for example, between the dial 5 and plate 4 -(compare- Figs. I and II) I provide in connectionwith a figured glass plate,

like the plate 4 above described, a suitable illuminating agent Orlamp, for instance a small incandescent electric light bulb 70,

which may be supplied with energy I from any-suitable source, not illustrated, as by line wires 71 andf72, shown in Fig. I. The elec-' tric energy supplied through conductors 71 and 72 may be switch-controlled in the usual way and thrown on or off as often as re quired'.

V Deeming it unnecessary in this instrument, addressed to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, to offer any further description of the mode of operation of my invention than what is afforded in the foregoing specification, I would have it .dis-

tinctly understood that Ido not intend in thi's specification to limit myself in any wise to any details of construction. I have herein endeavored in some measure to point out certain modifications of form which readily suggest themselves, but rely mainly upon the In graduprotection to which my claims entitle me under the law,

in view of the subsisting state of the art.

WVhat I claim is 1.' In a speed measurer and indicator, the

combination with a relativelystationary member and a rotary member operatlvely connected therewith, of a reciprocatory member, centrifugally operative means carriedby sa d rotary member, connectlons-between said means. and said reciprocatory member and curved guides within said rotary member to cause said means to move longitudinally as ,well as'radially of said rotary member.

v 2. In a speed measuring instrument, the

combination with its-stationary member and rotative member case, of an endwise movable converter rod, and means for indicating its movements, a converter head upon the end of said rod within the case, a kerfed arm provided with a'bore within said head, a

guide member upon the case accommodated within said kerf, and 'a' ball constituting a centrifugal actuating member, movably confined by said guide member'within the bore of the converter head.

- 3. In a speed measurer and indicator, the combination with its' stationary member and rotative memberof an endwise-movable' converter rod, and means for indicating its movements, a converter head upon the end f' of said rod'within thecase, a kerfed arm provided with a bore withineaid head, an

inclined guide member upon the case accommodated within said kerf, and a ball constituting a centrifugal actuating member,

,movably confined by said guide member within the bore of the converter-head.

4. In a speed measurer and indicator, the

combination with a stationary member and rotative member case, of an 'endwise movable converter rod, an indicator operatively connected therewith and carried by said stationary member, a converter head upon-the.

end-of said rod within the case, a kerfed'arm provided with a borewithin said head;ia ball constituting a centrifugal actuating iember within the bore Of'Silld arm, anda guide member upon the case accommodated within the ke'rf operatively engaging said ball, and so curved that for equal changes Fm the rapidity of rotation'of the'rotative member case said indicator will pass over equal angular distances. i

In a speedwm'easuring instrument, an

indicator, :a pair of members mountedjo,

revolve together, one of said 'menibers being endwise movable relativel to the vother member, the endwise mova'b e member Qperativelyrelated to said indicator, one 0 said members having a plurality -of-radially extending substantially cylindrical =unob structed centrifugal-'memberecarrying chan-f nels constructed to prevent lateral displacement of the centrifugal members while leaving said centrifugal members free to revolve therein and permitting movement of said centrifugal members longitudinally of the channels, said channels being open-ended, said member being also provided with a plu rality of open ended slots arranged in pairs, one pair for each channel, the slots of each pair cutting through the walls of the corresponding channel on opposite sides coincidently with the axis thereof, a centrifugal member in each of said channels shaped conformably with the channel; the other of said members being provided with a plurality of radially disposed arms, each of which enters the open ended slots of one of said channels and forms an end closure for the channel, the inner surfaces of said arms being inclined with respect to the axis of revolution of said pair of members, so that when the two relatively endwise movable members are revolved together, said centrifugal members acting through centrifugal force, will engage said arms and compel a relative endwise movement between said two members.

6. In a speed measuring iiistrumcnt, an indicator, a pair of members mounted to revolve together, one of said members being endwise movable relatively to the other member, the endwise movable member be ing op'eratively related to said indicator,

one of said members having a plurality of radially extending substantially cylindrical unobstructed ball carrying channels constructed to prevent lateral displacement of balls while leaving the balls free to revolve therein and permitting movement of the balls longitudinally of the channels, said channels being open-ended, ,said member being also provided with a plurality of open-ended slots arranged in pairs, one pair for each channel, the slots of each pair cutting through the walls of the corresponding channel on. opposite sides coincidently with the axis thereof, a plain ball in each of said channels, the other of said members being provided with a plurality of radially disposed arms, each of which enters the open ended slots of one of said ball channels and forms an end closure for the channel, the

inner surfaces of said arms being inclined with respect to the axis of revolution of said pair of members, so that when the two relativelv endwise movable members are revolved together, said balls, acting through centrifugal force, will engage said arms and compel a relative eudwise movement between said two members.

7 In a speed vmeasuring instrument, an indicator, a pair of members mounted to revolve together, one of said members being endwise movable relatively to the other member, one of said members having an axial pin, and the other being provided with an axial bore within which said pin is slidable, the endwise movable member being operatively related to said indicator, one of said members having a plurality of radially extending substantially cylindrical unobstructed ball carrying channels constructed to preventlateral displacement of balls while leaving the balls free to revolve therein and permitting movement. of the balls longitudinally of the channels, said channels being open ended, said member being also provided with a plurality of open ended slots arranged in pairs, one pair for each channel, the slots of each pair cutting through the walls of the corresponding channel on opposite sides coineidently with the axis thereof, a plain ball in each of said channels, the other of said members being provided with a plurality of radially disposed arms, each of which enters the open tween said two members.

8.'In a speed measuring instrument, an indicator, a pair of members mounted to revolve together, one of said pair of members being fixed against movement of translation relatively to the other and the other member being movable relatively to the first of said pair of members, said relatively movable member being operatively related to said indicator, one of said pair of members having a plurality of radially extending centrifugal member-carrying channels adapted to accommodate centrifugal memhers, a centrifugal member in each of said channels having its axes free for rotation and translation therein, the other of said pair of members being provided with a plurality of arms each of which passes through one of said channels, the inner surfaces of said arms being inclined with respect to the axis of revolution of said pair of members, so that when said members are revolved sa'id centrifugal members, acting through centrifugal force will engage said arms and compel a relative movement between said pair'of members.

9. In aspeed measuring instrument, an indicator, a pair of members mounted to revolve together, one of said pair of members being fixed against movement of translation relatively to the other and the other member being movable relatively to the first of said pair of members, said relatively movable member being operativelyrelated to said indicator, one of said pair of members having a plurality of radially extending centrifugal member-carrying channels adapted to accommodate centrifugal members, a.- centrifugal member in each of said channels having its axes free for rotation and translation therein, the other of said pair of members being provided with .a plurality of arms each of which passes through one of said channels, the inner surfaces of said arms being inclined with re spect to the axis of revolution of said pair of members, so that when said members are revolved said centrifugal members, acting through centrifugal force will engage said 1 arms and compel a. relative movement be- ,tween said pair of members, and means opposing such relative movement.

10.;In a speed measuring instrument, an

-indicator,'a pair of members mounted to revolve together, one of said pair of members beingffixed against movement of translation relatively'to the otherand the other member being movable relatively to the first oi" said pair of members, one of said members having a pin, and the other being provided with a bore in which said pin is slidable, said relatively movable member being operativel y related to. said indicator, one of said'pai'rof members having a plurality oi radially extending centrifugal member-car- .rying channels adapted to accommodate centrifugal members, a centrifugal member in each of said channels having its axes free for rotation and translation therein, the

other of said pair of members being pro-- vided with a plurality of arms each of .members are revolved which passes through one of said channels,

'the inner surfaces of said arms being in:

- able member being operatively related to said indicator, a rotatable one of said pair of members having'a plurality of radially extending rentrifugal member-carrying channels adapted to accommodate centrifugal members, a centrifugal member in each of said channels having its axes free for r0 tation and (translation therein, and parts extending into said channels and compel-' ling relative movement of, said relatively movable member when the centrifugal members, acting through centrifugal force, engage said parts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. JOSEPH O. MORRISON.

Witnesses: I

J. C. TEEGARDEN, BYRON MCMAHAN. 

